Display case



Dec. i6, 1941. H, A, ALHEl-r l2,266,580

DISPLAY CASE Filed M ay l0, 1940 /26 il? 7 a of dust, insects, etc.

Patented Dec. 16, 1941 DISPLAY CASE Henry A. Alheit, Milton, Mass., assignor to Fred C. Phillips, Stoughton, Mass.

Application May 10, 1940, Serial No. 334,353

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in display cases of the type which are mounted upon the counters of restaurants, soda fountains, stores, and Velsewhere where it is desirable to presentan attractive display of goods particularly such as pastries including salads and other edible materials.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a display case of rigid construction which can be economically made and assembled preferably provided with glass side panels and doors and so constructed as effectively to preventl access of flies or other insects to the interior of the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display case having rigid preferably metallic skeletonized top and bottom members adapted to receive removable glass cover plates and so constructed as to be interchangeable and connected by vertical corner posts presenting yieldable surfaces adjacent to the vertical edges of the glass panels and to provide `the top and bottom members with means for yieldably engaging the upper and lower ends of the panels, thereby providing a noiseless construction which will not respond to vibrations of the building or of the counter or other support upon which thecase is mounted.v

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the character described with a swinging door for closing an open side of the cabinet and provided with vertical posts, preferably presenting a resilient surface, adapted to cooperate with the vertical posts of the open side of the case, so that upon closure of the door the contact between the resilient surfaces of the posts will be noiseless and a tight closure produced which will effectively prevent the entrance Another feature of the invention consists in providing a novel anti-friction supporting hinge for the door.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing means connected to the hinge mechanism normally tending to hold the door in closed position or to swing it` to closed position when open.

A further important object of the invention is to provide the case with readily removable shelfsupporting racks thereby enabling the interior of the case to be readily cleaned.

Another feature of the invention consists in constructing and arranging the shelf-supporting racks in suchmanner as to prevent accidental removal or detachment of the shelves.

(Cl. S12-128) Thesevand other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:`

Fig. 1 is a front'elevation of a display case emy bodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the covering for the vtop of the case being removed;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3 3 Fig. 1, viewed from the top toward the bottom, showing onlya corner portion of one of the shelves mounted upon the shelf-supporting frame;

Fig. 4 is Va vertical sectional view on line ll--4A Figgf is a kvertical detail sectional view onv line 5--5 Fig. 3, showing the anti-frictionv pivotal connection between the door and base and also showing a portion of the door construction;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectionalr view on line 6 6 Fig. 2 showing a preferred means f or selectively connecting the end of a spring for closing the door to a disk xedly secured to the pivot about which the door swings.

'Ihe invention consists in improvements in display cases of the type shown in my prior Patent No. 1,980,973, granted November 20, 1934, for improvements in Display case, which discloses `va glass display case comprising metallic top and bottom members connected by vertical posts having channels toV receive the side panels therebetween and having laterally extending lugs for supporting shelves. more rigid and more economically manufactured construction is provided and one which is more completely `sound-proof and which contains nurrous advantages including those herein set for The display case shown in the accompanying drawing comprises an integral metallic base I, preferably-ofsubstantially rectangular form, presenting ahorizontal web 2- and an integral downwardly extending peripheral flange 3 adapted to rest lupon a suitable' support. Of course a plurality of legs may be provided instead of the continuousy downwardly extending flange. The base is desirably also provided with side flanges 4, 5, and a rear flange 6 integral withV and each extending upwardly from the web 2,Y

desirably presenting Abeveled outer fac-es and having vertlcal inner walls adapted to engage the outer faces of the vertical sides or panels. The

By the present invention a flanges 4, 5, and 6, terminate short of the rear ends of the webs of the base to provide flat areas 1 adapted to form seats for the vertical posts which connect the bottom and top members. The front of the base is provided with a flat surface 8 to cooperate with the bottom of the door, with an upwardly extending vertical flange 9 preferably extending across the front and adapted to form a shoulder to be engaged by a removable, preferably glass, bottom member.

The top of the case desirably is identical in construction with the bottom and interchangeable therewith. By thus providing interchangeable top and base members considerable advantage is obtained in economyof manufacture and in assembling.

The top and bottom members of the case are connected by suitable posts positioned at the corners of the base and top and lying in theplanes of the side members.

The preferred construction illustrated is of rectangular form and comprisesrvertical posts IIJ,Y

I-I, lf2, and I3, located at the corners, the lower ends of the posts II and I2 being seated upon the flat areas 'I above described, the upper ends engaging similar flat areas! of the top. The ends of the posts are reduced and screw threaded to provide shoulders adapted to rest upon the fiat areas with the reduced portion extending through the base and top and provided with suitable clamping nuts I4 and I5. The .posts I0 and I3 are similarly constructed and are mounted on-the fiat area 8 at the front of the base approximately in alinement with the upwardly extending flange 9" and are providedwith reduced end portions extending through the base and top with nuts I6 and II clam-ping the front posts firmly upon the base and top. Each of the posts is so constructed as to present a yielding surface. This desirably isy accomplishedA by fitting upon the posts rubber tubing. I8 of suchY length that it will enclose the posts the entire distance from the base to the top.

The walls of the case comprise side panels I9- and120l and a rear panel 2l, preferably of transparent glass, which are located respectively between adjacent posts with the edges of they glass panels slightly separated from the posts tofpermit such limited circulation of air within the case as is necessary. properly to preserve the food contained therein. i

Desirably means are provided for resiliently clamping the upper and lower ends of the glass panels.v against the inner walls of theV upwardly extending flanges 4, 5, 6. In the preferred construction illustrated the web 2 is provided midway of the lengthof the base or sides with inwardly projecting fianges or integral brackets 22 having upwardly extending vertical bosses 23 and leaf springs 24` are interposed between the lbosses 23 and the respective panels I9, 20, and 2I.- By reason of this construction each of the side and rear panels is. held yieldably at the top and bottom in Contact with the corresponding flange of the base and top, thus avoiding any possible vibration therebetween likely to produce noise'.

TheY front ofthe case is providedv with ay novel door construction. The door comprises a frameY having a horizontal bottom member 25 and a horizontaltopmember 26 provided respectively verticalv posts 28- and 29, w hich. are narrowly` spacedfrom--the adjacent edges: of the glass 1 panels to permit limited circulation of air. rlhe upper and lower ends of the posts 28 and 29 are seated in suitable sockets in the end portions of the members 25 and 26 and secured therein by axially alined screws 3i), as illustrated in Fig. 5. The posts 23 and 29 are provided with resilient surfaces, preferably in the form of rubber tubes 3| extending the full lengths of the posts 28 and 29 between the upper and lower frame members 25 and 2B. The posts 28 and 29 are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the posts I-Ii and I3 at the front of the oase, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and are adapted when the door is in closed position to cooperate with the vertical posts-to form such closures between the contacting surfaces of the respective posts as will prevent the entrance of insects.

Asshown in Fig. 3 the rubber covered surfaces 3l of the posts 28 and 29 engage the rubber covered surfaces I8 of the posts I0 and I3. This construction prevents any noise upon closure 4of the door as the contacting rubber covered surfaces actas bucrs.

The invention also comprises novel means for supporting andv for moving the door tov closed position. IIPhe door is supported at the bottom, as illustrated in Fig. 5, upon a stud 32V which is xedly mounted. in the base I and extends upwardly into a socket 33 in an extension of the.

lower frame member 25. beyond the post 28. The upperend. of thev stud 32' engages a ball 34 which is seated in the'. top of the socket 33. This provides: ank anti-friction ball bearing located beyond the. door area for supporting the door in such manner as to.- Cause the rubber covered surfaces of the door posts 28 and 29 to engage the rubber covered front posts I-Il and I3 and thereby form a tight closure when the door is closed.

The pivotal support for the upper end of the door comprises a vertical stud 35 which is fixedly mounted in an extension of the frame member 26: in axial alinement with the stud 32 of the base, and extends through and is journaled in a suitable. bearing inthe web 2 of the top. The upper end of the stud 35 has secured to it a member adapted to be acted upon by a spring in such manner as to tend to close the door. In theY preferred construction a disk 36 is ixedly secured to the upper end of the stud and is pro-y vided with` a circular series` of holes adapted to be connected to one end of aA spring 3'I the opposite end` of which is connected by suitable means.'

such as a screw 3S' to-the web 2 of the frame.- In

the. preferred construction illustrated in Fig. fir the spring 31 is provided with a looped end adapted to surround the shank of a pin 36a:

adapted to be selectively inserted in'one of the holes in the disk 35, therebyto impose the desired tension upon the spring 31. This connection is also such: that whenl the doorisswung tov open position the longitudinal axis of the spring will be on the opposite side of the vertical axis of the studi andv therefore serve to hold the door in open. position. y

It is desirable to provide display cases of this kind with suitable shelves, preferably of glass, spaced apart at desired intervals- Another important/object of the invention is to provide shelf supports which can be readily removed toY enable the glass walls or panels to be conveniently cleaned without dismantlingv the case. In the preferred construction shownherein the shelf supports are in the form of vertical grids each comprising vvertical rods 39 and 4I) connected at suitable .intervals by' crossl bars 4I which desirably are welded .or brazed at their ends to the vertical rods, the cross bars 4| being spaced apart such distances as may be desired properly to display the articles supported by the shelves. These vertical rods 39 and 40 desirably are of steel or other resilient material and are adapted to be detachably secured in slots 42 in the webs 2 of the base and top extending diagonally inwardly at the corners thereof. 'I'he lower ends 43 of the vertical rods 39 and 40 are straight and extend vertically into the slots 42 at the bottom of the base, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The upper ends of the rods 39 and 40 are bent horizontally toward each other to provide supports 44 which rest upon inwardly projecting extensions 45 of the webs 2 of the top and thereby serve as hangers for the shelf-supporting grids.

Of course the case is provided with complementary pairs of shelf-supporting grids upon which suitable shelves may be supported horizontally. Desirably the shelves 46 are of glass of suitable thickness and of a form complementary to the cross sectional area of the case. 'Ihe glass shelves desirably are of such length as to extend beyond the cross bars 4| into proximity to the vertical side panels I9 and 20, so that the ends will project beyond the vertical supporting bars 3S and 40 so that they cannot be slid out horizontally.

Desirably the shelves 46 are provided with mitered corners 4l adapted to it against the vertical bars of the shelf-supporting grids, thereby providing an effective and neat construction.

Any suitable means may be provided for completing the closure of the bottom and top of the display case. As illustrated herein a glass plate 48 is supported upon the upper ends of the vertical bosses 23 of the brackets 22 and upon a boss 23x, which extends inwardly from the flange 9 of the base.

The top is also closed by a preferably glass plate 49 which rests upon the upper ends of the nuts I and i6. Washers of rubber or other suitable material are interposed between the under surface of the glass plate and the top of the nuts or the upper faces of the nuts may be coated with rubber or other yieldable material.

It will be obvious that cases of this character may be made of any desired size or configuration, for example, rectangular as shown in the drawing, or triangular, or hexagonal, etc. In each case the base and top may be identical and interchangeable, the connecting posts provided with yielding surfaces and positioned in the plane of the panels so that the edges of the panels will nearly engage the resilient surfaces and provide an effective closure against dust, insects, etc. The door may be similarlyv mounted for any form of case and so constructed as to cooperate with the vertical posts having yielding surfaces. A case of any of such forms or other suitable forms which may readily be visualized, :lay embody the improvements above described.

Desirably means are provided which will prevent the door from swinging around against the side of the case. As illustrated herein a stop pin 50 extends upwardly from the base in proximity to the vertical post IU which is adjacent to the hinge for the door. The stop pin is so positioned that it will permit the full opening of the door but prevent it swinging too far.

It will be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention shown and described herein are of an illustrative character and are not restrictive of the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A display case, having a plurality of vertical side panels and an open side, comprising a base and a complementary top each having means to engage respectively the outer and inner faces of the ends of said side panels, and vertical posts connecting said base and top positioned in the respective planes of and having yieldable surfaces adjacent to but slightly spaced from the respective vertical edges of the side panels to permit a limited circulation of air within the display case, and a swinging door pivotally mounted in said base and top having a panel and a frame therefor having vertical members provided with yielding surfaces adapted noiselessly to cooperate with the vertical posts at the open side of said case to provide an effective closure.

2. A display case, having a plurality of transparent vertical side panels and an open side, comprising a base and a complementary top each having means to engage respectively the ends of the side panels, vertical posts covered by cylindrical rubber sleeves connecting said base and top positioned in the respective planes of and adjacent to but slightly spaced from the respective vertical edges of the side panels, and a swinging door having a transparent panel and a frame therefor pivotally mounted in said base and top and provided with vertical members having rubber covered surfaces narrowly spaced from the edges of said door panel adapted when the door is closed noiselessly to engage the vertical posts at the open side of said case and to provide an effective closure.

3. A display case, comprising a base and a complementary top, vertical posts presenting resilient surfaces connecting said base and said top and so located that horizontal lines successively connecting adjacent posts dene a predetermined area, transparent panels located intermediate of adjacent posts, having their edges adjacent to but slightly spaced from the resilient surfaces of said posts except for a space between a pair of adjacent posts providing an open side and a swinging door for said open side having a transparent panel and a frame therefor having vertical posts provided with resilient surfaces narrowly spaced from the vertical edges of said panel and adapted to noiselessly engage the resilient surfaces of the vertical posts of the open side and to provide an effective closure.

4. A display case comprising a base and a complementary top, vertical posts presenting resilient surfaces connecting said base and said top and so located that horizontal lines successively connecting adjacent posts dene a predetermined area, transparent panels located intermediate of adjacent posts having their edges adjacent to but slightly spaced from the resilient surfaces of said posts except for a space between a pair of end posts providing an open side and a swinging door for said open side having a transparent panel, a frame therefor pivotally mounted in said top and base provided with vertical members having yieldable surfaces narrowly spaced from the adjacent vertical edges of the door panel and adapted noiselessly to engage the resilient surfaces of the vertical posts of said open side and to provide an effective closure.

5. A display case comprising a rectangular skeleton base and a complementary rectangularV top, vertical posts adjacent the corners thereof connecting said base and top, a transparent vertical back panel and parallel transparent side panels located respectively intermediate of the adjacent posts, complementary shelf-supporting racks located in proximity to opposite side panels each comprising rods having their upper ends detachably mounted in and supported by said top and having their lower ends detachably mounted in said base and rigidly connected together by bars suitably spaced apart and shelves mounted on corresponding bars of said complementary racks extending at their ends into proximity to said side panels and beyond the vertical rods and horizontal bars of the respective racks.

6. A display case, having a plurality of vertical side panels and an open side, comprising a base and a complementary top each provided with means to engage said side panels, vertical posts having yieldable` surfaces connecting the base and top narrowly spaced from the respective vertical edges ofthe side panels and a swinging door for closing the open side of said case comprising upper and lower frame members having means to receive the ends of the door panel, a door panel mounted therein, and'vertical posts having yieldable surfaces connecting said frame members spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the vertical posts of the open side, and narrowly spaced from the adjacent edges of the door panel, axially alined pivotal members respectively connecting the base tothe lower door member and the upper door member to the top located in extensions of said frame members beyond and at such distance from the vertical axis of the adjacent door post as to cause the yieldable surfaces o1" the door posts noiselessly to engage the yieldable surface of the vertical posts at the adjacent open side ofA the case when the door is closed.

7.. A display case, having a back panel and side panel and an open iront, comprising a skeleton rectangular base having a horizontal web and a surrounding vertical flange provided adjacent its corners with shallow slots extending diagonally toward the corners and a reversely positioned rectangular top of like construction and interchangeable therewith, said base and top each having means to engage the ends of said panels, vertical posts mounted at their ends in said base and top in proximity to the corners thereof, complementary shelf-supporting. racks located in proximity to opposite side panels comprising vertical resilient rods rigidly connected by shelfsupporting bars suitably spaced apart, said rods being mounted at their ends in the respective diagonal slots in said base and top, and the upper ends. of said rods being adapted to be sprung inwardly out of engagement with the slots in the top to permit removalv of theshelf-supporting racks;

8. A dis-play case, having a back panel and side panel and an open front, comprising a skeleton rectangular base having a horizontal web and a surrounding vertical flange providedv adjacent its corners with shallow slots. extending diagonally toward the corners and a reversely positioned rectangular top of like construction and interchangeable therewith, said base and top each having means to engage the ends of said panels, vertical posts mounted at their ends in said base and. top in proximity to the corners thereof, con plementary shelf-supporting racks. located in proximity to oppositeside panels comprising vertical resilient rods rigidly connected by shelf-supporting bar'ssuitably spaced apart, said rods being. mounted attheir ends in the respective diagonal slots in said base andi top, the upper ends of said rods being bent to engage the upper face ofthe top thereby to support the rack, andv the upper ends of saidf rods being adapted to be sprung inwardly out of engagement with the slots in the top to permit removal of the shelf-supporting racks.

9. A display case, having a plurality of vertical side panels and an open side, comprising a base and a complementary top each provided with means toy engage said side panels, vertical posts having yieldablesurfaces connecting the base and top narrowly spaced from'A the respective vertical edgesof the: side panels anda swinging door for closing the open side of said case comprising upper and lower frame members having means to receive the ends of the door panel, a door panel mounted therein, and vertical posts having yieldable surfaces connecting said frame members spaced'apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the Vertical posts of the open side, axially alined pivotal members respectively connecting the base to the lower door member and the upper door member to the top located in extensions of said frame members beyond and at such distance from the vertical axis of the adjacent door post as to cause the door posts to swing into engagement with the vertical posts at the adjacent open side of the case, the pivotal connection between the lower door member and the base comprising an anti-friction bearing, and resilient means connected to the upper pivotal member operable to swing and hold the door in closed position.

lo. A display case, having a plurality of vertical side panels and an open side, comprising a base and a complementary top each provided with means to engage said side panels, vertical posts connecting the base andA top narrowly spaced from the respective vertical edges of the side panels and a swinging door for closing the open side of said case comprising upper and lower members having means to receive the ends of the door panel, and vertical posts connecting said members spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the vertical posts of the open side, axially alined pivotal members in extensions of the upper and lower frame members respectively connecting the base to the lower door member andV the upper door member to the top located in extensions of said frame members beyond and at such distance from the Vertical axis of the adjacent door post asv to cause the door posts to swing into engagement with theV vertical posts at the adjacent open side of the case, said pivotal connection between'Y the lower door member and the base comprising a stud mounted in said base and rotatably fitting ina cylindrical socket in said lower door member with a ball interposed betweenA thev end of the stud and the base of said socket, thereby providing an anti-friction bearinglocated beyond the door area for supporting the door.

11.. A display case, having a plurality of verticalside panels and an open side, comprising a base and a complementary top each provided with means to engage said side panels, vertical posts connecting the base and top narrowly spaced from the respective vertical edges of the side panels and a swinging door for closing the open side of said' case comprising upper and lower bars having means to receive the ends of the door panel, and vertical posts connecting said bars spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the vertical posts of the open side, axially alined pivotal members respectively connecting the base to the lower door member and the upper door member to the top located at such distance from the vertical axis of the adjacent door post as to cause the door posts to swing into engagement with the vertical posts at the adjacent open side of the case, said upper pivotal connection comprising a stud xedly secured in the upper door member and extending through the top and having secured to the upper end thereof resilient means normally acting to swing the door to closed position.

12. A display case, having a plurality of vertical side panels and an open side, comprising a base and a complementary top each provided with means to engage said side panels, vertical posts connecting the base and top narrowly spaced from the respective vertical edges of the side panels and a swinging door for closing the open side of said case comprising upper and lower bars having means tc receive the ends of the doo-r panel, and vertical posts connecting said bars spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the vertical posts of the open side, axially alined pivotal members respectively connecting the base to the lower door member and the upper door member to the top located at such distance from the vertical axis of the adjacent door post as to cause the door posts to swing into engagement with the vertical posts at the adjacent open side of the case, said upper pivotal connection comprising a stud xedly secured in the upper door member and extending through the top and having xedly secured to its upper end a disk provided near its periphery with apertures, a stud adapted to be selectively secured in one of said apertures, and resilient means connecting the stud to` an anchorage upon said top operable to swing the door to closed position.

13. A display case, having a plurality of vertical side panels and an open side, comprising a base and a complementary top provided with means to engage the side panels, a swinging door for closing the open side of the case having a lower pivotal connection to said base and an upper pivotal connection comprising a stud xedly secured to the upper end of the door and extending through the top and a disk xedly secured to the upper end of the stud provided with a circular series of apertures, a door-closing spring connected at one end to an anchorage upon said top and means for selectively connecting the other end of the spring to one of the apertures in said disk whereby the tension of the spring may be varied.

HENRY A. ALHEIT. 

